Hi,

I am looking to buy wheels on tire rack and it's asking me whether my Cooper S 2007 has metal or rubber valve stem. I am not sure which one I should select for this option, can someone help me out here please ?

Thanks

 

You can go and look if your car has metal or rubber valvestems.

 

More than likely has metal... which are the TPMS

 

Its kind of a toss up with '07s, mine is sans tpms

 

Does it matter if I get either one ? Would tpms still work if I get the rubber one? I believe it's metal but my friend said it's rubber, now I am confused!

 

Got my car in April, 07. Does it matter if I got the car before or after august,07 ? Did mini change the valve stem ?

 

I picked up my 07 at the end of August. At that time dealer was recving some cars with old TMPS and some with new so I'd say that's when the cutover was happening.

Unfortunately the question at TireRack is IMO poorly worded because you can buy 'metal stems' for older tires/wheels too - they are simply a bling cover over the rubber stem - I have them on my 79. What they are really asking is do you have 'active' TMPS or not.

BTW some tire dealers have found yet a new way to hit our pocketbooks via the new TMPS sensors. They are charging $20 per wheel for TMPS service or replacement. I recently put new tires on a Honda with alloy wheels and TPMS sensors. I noticed in the estimate there was no extra charge for TPMS and asked b4 I actually signed to get the work done. This tire place told me it was same charge as an old style valve stem replacement as all they need to change is a simple o-ring. That was several months ago and nothing is leaking . . . they do not even list TMPS service on their price board.

I you live on/near the Space Coast the place was GATTO's